Improved door lock and latch



EDWARD HALLEY, OF

-locks and latches.

VUNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO PATRICK KENNEDY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPaovr-:D Doo'a LOCK AND LATCH.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No'. 39,770, dated September 1, 1863.

To all whom it may concern: y

Beit known that I, EDWARD HALLEY, of Branford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door Locks and Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and `exact description ot' the same, when taken in 'connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure 4l is a perspective view; Figs. 2 and 3, sectional views to fully illustrate the operation of my invention.

Same letters refer to like parts.

Doorlocks and latches are distinguishable by the title right7 and let't7 hand, according as the door to which they are adapted is to swing to right or left. Until quite recently this has required two distinct locks and latchesone for right and one for left hand doors-and has always been a source of great annoyance to dealers as Well as consumers, from the i'act that what is properly termed a left-hand door is often,by thoseinexperiencethcalled a righthaud door, and vice versa, and thus he orders from the dealer quite the reverse of his desires; or, as is often the case, not aware of any distinction, orders simply a quantity ot' In such cases the trouble and annoyance mayv too easily be imagined to require description.

Various devices have been used without fully accomplishing the desired result, from the fact that in all cases some part. of the lock must be removed to reverse from right to left, or vice versa, which, except in the hands ot' an expert, but adds to the ditticulties already described.

My invention, suggested by this trouble, is designed to overcome the same; and it consists in constructing the latch-bolt independent of the horseshoe, which is moved by the follower, and so that it may be partially drawn out from the case and set either for right or left hand, and, thus set, be returned to the case by a spring or its equivalent. y

To more fully illustrate, as also to enable others skilled to make and use my improved looks and latches, I will proceed `to describe their construction and operation.

A is the face-plate, B the case, C the latchbolt, D the lock-bolt, E the follower, to all appearance, when complete as iu Fig. l, the same as any common latch and lock.

In Figs. 2 and 3, F is thehorseshoe, which, operated by the follower, serves to draw the latch-bolt in, while the spring G serves to force it out. The latch-bolt C is made with a spindle, around which is a collar, a, and upon its extreme end is made a head, b. Between the said head and collar I place a coil-spring` orits equivalent. (Denotedinred.) The horseshoe is made with projections c, against which I place the collar a. The head b restsV against another projection, e, from the horseshoe. To nnlatch or to draw in the latch, turn the follow er E in the ordinary manner, and the projection c will press against the collar a and draw the bolt in but should there be a sutlicient resistance oii'ered to overcome the spiral spring, the horseshoe would simply, contract the spring without moving the latch. To provide against this I make the other projections, z, from the horseshoe, which will catch upon the head b and force the latch back should resistance be oii'ered. When it is desired to reverse the latch-bolt from left to right, draw the bolt from the caseas shown in Fig. 3, (the projections i must be placed far enough forward to allow of this;) turn the bolt to the required position, and when in that position release the'bolt, and the spiral spring will force the bolt back into the case,

as shown in Figs. l and 2.

No instruments are required, and no part or piece need be taken from the case to make the change. Thus the object of my invention is accomplished; and,

Having thus fully described and set forth the same, what I claim therein as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

'.lhe combination ofthe horseshoe and latchbolt, when the same are constructed in the manner described, so as to allow a partial withdrawal of the latch-bolt independent of the horseshoe, for the purpose specied.

Witnesses: EDWARD HALLEY.

THoMAs KENNEDY, JOHN E. EARLE. 

